Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FITCH, n.² Also fetch. Mostly used in pl. Variant forms, also found in Eng. dial., of Eng. vetch, Vicia sativa (Per. 1916 Wilson L. Strathearn 246; w.Fif. 1930, Arg.³, Dmb., Kcb.¹⁰ 1951). Wild fetches, tufted vetch, Vicia cracca (Clc. 1886 B. and H. 181). Freq. in dim. forms fitchacks, fidgicks, fitchies, 1. common vetch (Mry. 1839 G. Gordon Flora Mry. 23; Nai. 1900 R. Thomson Nat. Hist. Highl. Par. 284, Uls. 1931 North. Whig (16 Dec.), fitchies), Mry. 1951, fitchacks; 2. tufted vetch (Abd. 1886 B. and H. 185). Often attrib. in comb. fidgick piz (Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 190; Abd.²⁷ 1951), fitchie peas (Ayr. 1880).Mry. 1733 Lord Elchies' Letters (ed. MacWilliam) 86:
Had ane offered you wou'd also have gott your fitchpease.Abd. 1744 Monymusk Papers (S.H.S.) 136:
Tares, fitches or peas being sowen upon it in spring, & ploughed down in blossom, for manure.Sc. 1776 Kames Gentleman Farmer 189:
Their dry food ought to be white-clover hay, or unthreshed fitches.Sc. 1891 R. Ford Thistledown 184:
V saw her helping herself to an armful of my fitches.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 110:
Fitches for the rabbits.